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January 24, 2025

WSPTA Testifies: Graduation Requirements

Advocacy in Action! Parent advocate Natalya Yudkovsky testified in the House Education Committee January 23 on HB 1285, making financial education instruction a requirement for the graduating class of 2031. Natalya expressed WSPTA concerns about creating a new graduation requirement before the State Board of Education has finished its work considering what tomorrow’s graduates need…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

January 23, 2025

WSPTA Testifies: Close the Funding Gaps

Advocacy in Action On January 22, the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee heard public testimony on bills that would close the funding gaps in what are being called “The Big Three” – special education, school operating costs (MSOC), and student transportation. WSPTA Board Secretary Melissa Stone was part of a panel of education…
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Category: Advocacy , Education , Legislative , News

January 22, 2025

WSPTA Testifies: Preventing and Reducing Gun Violence and Suicide

Advocacy in Action! Dr. Gwen Loosmore testified in two committees on January 21st, bringing Washington State PTA’s priority position of preventing and reducing gun violence and suicide to the forefront of bills related to common sense solutions to approach escalating gun violence. In the House Finance Committee, Gwen shared statistics about suicide and gun deaths…
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Category: Advocacy , Education , Legislative , News

January 20, 2025

Pomp, Ceremonies, Committees and an Inaugural Ball Kick off 105-day Session

By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Newly elected state House of Representative members and Senators were sworn in at opening ceremonies in the House and Senate on January 13, the first day of this long session. On Tuesday, former Governor Jay Inslee, who had served three terms (12 years), addressed a joint session of the House and Senate…
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Category: Advocacy , Education , Legislative , News

January 16, 2025

Presidential Transition and the 119th Congress

National PTA recently shared their 2024 Transition Memo regarding the new Administration and 119th Congress to be sworn in next week. You can read their memo here. National PTA will continue to provide resources and materials to empower PTA advocates across the country to work with their elected officials at all levels of government to ensure all children…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

January 15, 2025

WSPTA Testifies: Disappointment with Operating Budget Proposal

Advocacy in Action! WSPTA President Angela Steck testified in both the House Appropriations and Senate Ways & Means committees on Monday and Tuesday, sharing members’ disappointment with the lack of investments in K-12 education in outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee’s operating budget proposal. Steck focused on the Big 3 – MSOC (materials, supplies, and operating costs),…
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Category: Advocacy , Education , Legislative

January 13, 2025

69th Legislature Convenes January 13 Amid New Faces, Projected Deficit

By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org The Washington State Legislature convenes Monday, January 13th for the first year of the 2025-27 biennium and a 105-day session that is scheduled to end April 27, 2025.  Legislators must adopt two-year budgets for operating, capital, and transportation, based on updated revenue forecasts and changes to caseloads since they left town in…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative , News


December 20, 2024

January Checklist for Running Your PTA

Ongoing Tasks Attend any board and membership meetings Read meeting minutes and offer corrections Prepare reports for board and membership meetings Get educated: take advantage of in-person and online training opportunities Be familiar with your responsibilities and fulfill them Review and ask questions about the monthly financial report Actively engage in a plan for membership…
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Category: Leadership , Training

December 19, 2024

January Checklist for Councils Supporting Local PTAs

January Monthly Tasks   Continue assisting with items from the “Ongoing Tasks” list.   Refer to the January Checklist for Running Your PTA.   Reflections entries due to WSPTA by January 15  Councils can access the submission form here. Contact Reflections@wastatepta.org with questions.  Remind local PTAs about the 1099-NEC due for independent contractors by January 31 For contractors you paid more than $600…
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Category: Leadership , Training